Strattera

[Andrew]

Strattera, a non-stimulant medication recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD in Adults, has begun to hit the market.

I have been on Strattera for a month now, after having been on Ritalin for 11 years. The results have been great! The only temporary side effects I noticed was slight cotton mouth in the morning for the first couple of weeks.

You can find more information on Strattera at www.strattera.com

[David]

I had not even heard of this until just now, Big. Thanks for the info, I am on my way to check it out. I am pretty happy with Ritalin myself but am up for looking at other things.
How long does it last? Same time span as Ritalin or longer?

[Andrew]

It lasts all day...on one dose. Much better than the other extended release versions of meds, and certainly better, IMHO than taking Ritalin 3-4 times a day.

[Kylin]

Thank you for this information. I've been looking for a better working medication for my son and so will call his doctor in the morning about this.

Might call my doctor as well... would be nice not to have to take the Rit. 4 x a day.


Again... Thanks!

Ky

[Andrew]

Let us know how it goes!! Good luck!

[webqueen62]

Include me in the new to Strattera club. Princess, my 8 year old started on it last week, and we love it here! She is so much more happy and loving and confident - in just a WEEK!!!!!!!

Cheers!

[Andrew]

Webbie,

Am so glad things are working out for Princess!!! I know how hard it was for you to decide to put her on meds...so the fact that Strattera is working so well is a real victory!!!

Many Hugssss!

[Kylin]

I picked up my sons prescription of Strattera this afternoon. Dr. wants us to wean off the Ritalin while starting the Strattera.. so he'll be taking both meds for 3 days. We are going to start this on Saturday so that he'll have the weekend and spring break to adjust. I'm hopeful... real hopeful..

Webbie... what was Princess on before switching to Strattera?? Did you have issues with moodiness and meloncholy?

Thanks again for the heads up on this.
Ky )

[webqueen62]

Hi Kylin-

Previously she was unmedicated with only a two week methylphenidate trial that produced some added focus, but lots of headaches and tummy aches. I know that perhaps some of that would have subsided, but at the time I was not convinced that she couldn't/shouldn't be allowed to compensate her way around it.

We have since (the test was at the holiday season this year and the results of her latest evals were delivered on Feb 19th) come to understand the importance of really giving the meds a chance, since the expectation or thought process of allowing her to compensate her way around her deficits is getting to be and almost always is a very frustrating defeating thing to do to anyone, especially a child.

And finally yes, she has since about the age of two had mood swings and melonchaly (sp? where is the spell checker?). That is part of why I am delighted by Strattera, I worried about triggering Bipolar in her with stimulants, Bipolar happens to run in my family.

Anyway, this morning she took it without any extra persuasion, we 13 days in this morning, and it has been a hard pill to swallow

[webqueen62]

Oh Kylin-

I forgot to mention that some folks are finding the need to continue with a very small dose of ritalin because the receptors that strattera works on are not quite the same.

I don't have time currently to get all the scientific details but I can later if you need them. Just wanted to let you know that this is happening.

Cheers!

[webqueen62]

oh my, I am so sorry - Kylin - obviously I need to pay better attention.

[Andrew]

Webbie,

In the future, you can just edit your post

[Kylin]

Originally posted by webqueen62
oh my, I am so sorry - Kylin - obviously I need to pay better attention.

Sorry for what, Webbie?? I read both your posts twice and couldn't figure out where the problem was...lol So please whatever it was, don't worry about it.

"pay better attention..." **laughs** don't we all?

I wasn't aware that he may need to keep a sm. dosage of Rit as well as the Strattera... but I will keep that in mind. My main reason for asking about all this, is that my son is quite moody, gets melonchaly, mood swings, bout's of temper... the Rit has been helping with this some... but I wasn't sure how the Strattera would effect these things.

Feel free to get scientific with me anytime... I just can't guarentee that I'll understand it all.

I do understand your reluctance to medicate. When my daughter was first diagnosed after a nightmarish year and a half.. I was reluctant... but her Doc. convinced me to try it for a month... and if it didn't help... then we'd go another route. The next her teacher called to ask what I did to my daughter... where did we get this perfect copy?? **laughs** That hooked me.

( I do recognize that each child is different... and what works for one may not work for another. Sometimes meds are good.. sometimes not. )

Thanks,
Ky

[esposa143]

I need info on strattera. I am an adult with add and havent used meds in 15 years. My phsyc thinks I should try this. I would like to know about dosing because I live in the sticks and not sure how much the local doc will know about it. Phsyc dr reffered to some docs but all no new patients. I am in collage at 27 yrs old and it would be nice to final find some help for the caos in my head. Any help would be greatly apperatiated.
( Sorry I cannot spell at all)

[Lexxy]

Big...I just had to join in here. I just started taking Straterra 3 days ago after 19 years on Ritalin[with annual one month drug holidays from it]. I am sure glad to hear something good about it after reading some critical things on another forum. I have a positive attitude about it and I hope I see good things like you have experienced.

Did you have in sleep problems? I haven't gone to the second 40mg tablet level yet and I already have some sleep problems but my typing and handwriting are better and those are things that I have noticed improvement in with other meds like Ritalin and Dex. Blood pressure seems ok...I am monitering it at Doc's request.

Have you had any appetite supressing effects? I was hoping for some of those...in fact that's why I'm trying it. I lost 37 pounds on Topamax but it quit helping...I am maintaining the loss tho.

I feel a bit slowed up...like I want a cup of coffee but I realy drink very little...just 1/2 cup in am.

I hope to find some guidance about Straterra here.